Plastic Pitches Are Not For Me

STEVEN GERRARD believes that artificial surfaces should not be used at the top level of Scottish football.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference at Ibrox Stadium this morning, the Gers boss was again asked about plastic pitches after Union chiefs from PFA Scotland revealed on Thursday that every player from the nine top-flight clubs with grass surfaces signed a petition to the SPFL calling for synthetic surfaces to be outlawed in the Ladbrokes Premiership.

Gerrard today said: “I agree with the players, or the majority of the players in terms of trying to get them out of the game at elite level.

“I’ve gave my opinion on this before, I don’t like plastic pitches and I didn’t like playing on them. I think they are dangerous.

“I respect the teams that decide to put them in place for financial reasons but for me, having been a player and now obviously coaching players, I believe the game would be in a better place if there were no plastic pitches.

I just think the people that won’t agree to taking them out of the game, they need to think about the players’ health and their safety. For me, my opinion is players are a lot safer on grass.

“I’m not saying that the owners or those clubs should dig deep and find the money. I’m not saying that because I respect their positions and the clubs, but I believe the people that run this league should do more to make sure it is played on grass.

“These games are going out worldwide and we are trying to attract top players to the league and improve the league. Every other elite league plays on grass, so why shouldn’t Scotland?”

“I’m sure there are all kinds of different ways [it could be done], whether it be TV, whether it be the PFA, whether it be the SFA, whether it be bigger clubs trying to support other clubs.

“I’d be all for that because I just think football at the top level and top players should be playing on grass.”